feminist blogs in english

This post is part of a series leading up to the Women Deliver conference (www.womendeliver.org), a global meeting on maternal and reproductive health and the advancement of women and girls. Women Deliver 2010 will push for an additional $12 billion in increased investment from G8 for programs to improve maternal health. Last month, a new [...]

When I read this article about domestic violence shelters in Baghdad, I began thinking about domestic violence victims living in conflict zones. As an advocate for DV survivors, the question most people ask me is, “Why did she stay?” My favorite way to answer this question is to make a chart: reasons to stay and [...]

Global Feminism in the News is a monthly column discussing recurring themes in international news stories concerning women. This month we will focus on women’s progress and victories. This week’s post is inspired by Phyllis Schlafly. Yep, you read correctly. Many of you probably read/heard/talked about this study that “determined” that women are less happy now [...]

Global Feminism in the News is a monthly column discussing recurring themes in international news stories concerning women. This month we will discuss rape in the news. I decided over a month ago that September’s article would discuss rape in the news. In late July, three very different stories of rape emerged in the international news. [...]

PBS news again covers real news and not a sensationalized misunderstanding. The recent annoyed reaction by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has overshadowed the purpose for her African tour and the message of human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rape and sexual slavery are frequently being used as weapons in the fighting of the DRC. These warfare actions need to be seen and treated as crimes against humanity. Clinton told Congolese Preside Joseph Kabila there shouldn’t be “impunity for sexual and gender-based violence.” Her visit brings attention to a problem that many women’s rights and peace activists have been outraged about for some time.

The News Hour with Jim Lehrer covered Secretary Clinton’s visit in a much more intelligent way. Lehrer reported the real news about the human rights issues affecting the women and men of the DRC is being told. He interviewed Zinab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women International on Tuesday August 11^th. She explained how systematic rape is not only a weapon against women, but men in the community as well.

“It’s to destroy the social fabric of the society. When a husband is forced to see the rape of his wife or his daughter in front of him, this is a complete emasculation of the husband, and telling the whole society that we are destroying the most respected members of your society…

So it’s a message from one man to another, in terms of, ‘I have a gun. You don’t. I’m stronger than you.’”

 The fighting began when Rwandan rebels fled to Eastern Congo followed by Ugandan forces. Soon Congolese rebels and troops got involved in this conflict that has quickly become about power and resources. A previous Feminists For Choice post provides more information about the conflict and resources to learn and do more.

Luckily, people and the U.S. government are starting to take steps towards ending this violence. Clinton came to the DRC with a pledge of $17 million that will be used to help the people of Congo with a significant portion allocated to go directly to helping women and girls that have been affected by sexual assaults.

Women for Women International has a program called Run for Congo Women that has raised money to help provide basic needs and educate to women in the Congo and other war torn nations. There are upcoming runs in 6 different cities including Portland, New York, Phoenix, and Chicago.

Although we still have a long way to go towards peace in the DRC, I hope that the educational potential of Secretary Clinton’s visit doesn’t get lost in the media because a mistranslation.

Outburst. Tirade. Tantrum. These and other belittling words (which certainly make for more exciting, if sexist, headlines) are being used to describe Secretary of State Clinton’s response to being asked her husband’s opinion* on certain Chinese contracts in the Congo.  I would describe it quite differently. Question: We’ve all heard about the Chinese contracts in [...]

This month’s SRHR Sit Report focuses on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where rape and sexual assault have become the tactic of choice for terrorizing and intimidating women and communities, and the conditions of the conflict have further degraded the status of sexual and reproductive health services.   The war that has raged in eastern part [...]